SPICE UP THE ICE! Wannabe Olympic champs to preview Spice Girls ice dance at Sheffield Euros
Britain’s new Torvill and Dean backed ice dance sensations know what they want...what they really, really want!
Forget the Bolero...
Hotly tipped duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson wannabe Olympic champs dancing to a Spice Girls medley in a bid to follow in the famous skate tracks of their idols at the Winter Games in February, they revealed in an exclusive chat with Graham Walker.
Like their heroes they will also be going for gold on Sheffield steel blades and they vowed to preview their breathtaking routine in the city, just days before the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, when they compete in the ISU Figure Skating European Championships, taking place at Utilita Arena Sheffield, from January 13-18.
BUY TICKETS: Cheer them on and see other Olympic hopefuls at the Euros. Single-day tickets are from £42 and Gala tickets from £12.50 (excl. venue and ticketing fees), now available with full event information and competition schedule on the official Europeans 2026 website at www.europeans2026.com. For tickets also visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Lilah and Lewis’ rhythm dance will be a medley of Wannabe, Viva Forever and Spice Up Your Life. Their free dance is a tribute to Lewis's Scottish heritage, with a crowd pleasing 500 miles, by The Proclaimers, Auld Lang Syne and the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.
And they are flying the flag for Team GB with Lilah in a sparkly Union Jack dress, in a patriotic homage to Ginger Spice's iconic outfit.
The routine is already winning international competitions, including gold at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany, after they debuted it, with little fanfare, at iceSheffield, winning the new British Ice Skating international competition, The Bolero Cup, named after the former Olympic champions’ own unforgettable 1984 Olympic gold dance.
Jayne Torvill and Cristopher Dean were there to present them with the trophy in a symbolic handover and earlier both couples spoke about the exciting prospects for the future of the sport.
Lewis told how they will be going for gold, as their inspirations did, skating on John Wilson Blades - made in the Steel City for more than 329 years. Trusted by Olympic and world champions,the blades were first commissioned by King William III in 1696 and Queen Victoria ordered a pair for herself and Prince Albert in the 1840’s.
"We both wear those. We have our entire career,' said Lewis. "It's really cool. I've been to the factory to see how they put it all together and the design that goes into each blade. It's amazing."
Christopher Dean added: "Absolutely. Sheffield steel has carried us to a few gold medals."
They see Lilah and Lewis as the future of British ice dancing.
"What they're doing is amazing," said Christopher.
“We're blown away by all the technical elements and the artistic side of it. We're really proud of what they're doing. Lilah and Lewis know exactly what they need to do."
The UK’s recent success on the ice has been record-breaking.
Team GB's other exciting prospects include Sheffield’s own Luke Digby, from Fulwood, who will also skate at the Euros, with partner Anastasia Vaipan-Law.
New sensations Lilah, aged 26, a British-Canadian, raised in London, and Lewis, 31, from Prestwick, Scotland, are widely recognised as the nation’s best skating hopes in decades.
They are seven times British national champions and two-time European silver medalists, achieving a historic world bronze earlier this year – Britain’s first world medal in over 40 years since Torvill and Dean's big win.
Lilah said they feel the pressure of expectation but have reframed it into an opportunity to go 'full force' for Olympic glory.
Is the dream to win gold?
She beamed: "I mean, I'm not going to say no to that. Sounds pretty nice to me."
They look up to Torvill and Dean, who are amongst their biggest fans, mentoring and supporting them, saying they are the reason they fell in love with ice dancing.
Lewis said: "They are household names. It is such a privilege to be following them. Both of us just feel that it's such an honour. I started because of these guys, after Dancing on Ice, and I owe my whole skating career to them."
Lilah told them: "It's been the example that you've set for us. Creativity is a huge piece of what inspires us about you."
TV's Dancing On Ice will be 'rested' in 2026 after 17 seasons, but the stars revealed there will be a Christmas special this year, with highlights and behind the scenes footage from their recent Our Last Dance 50th-anniversary tour.
The beloved skaters plan to stay involved with the sport off the ice and urged the public to buy tickets, to cheer on all British skaters and experience the thrill of watching the sport live in Sheffield.
The Exhibition of Champions Gala also promises a spectacular closing night, where Europe’s newly crowned champions and medalists return to the ice to perform.
Christopher added: "You're getting the creme de la creme of skating. Viewing it live, seeing the energy, the speed, feeling the rush of air as you pass, it's a whole different experience."
Mark Hanretty, one of Dancing On Ice’s pro-dance skaters, a former European and World competitor, is , Ambassador for the Euro Championships coming to Sheffield.
The Exhibition of Champions Gala tickets will grant access to the spectacular closing night, where Europe’s newly crowned champions and medalists return to the ice to perform their most entertaining, creative, and crowd-pleasing routines in a celebration of the sport.
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